Sombreros

[Forty Rod]

I spent almost thre hours on the web today looking for a real, felt sombrero.

I don't want one of those embroidered, multi colored things thta look like some tourists version of a Tijuana weekend in a wh---houser.  Maybe somehting a little plainer, tan, buckskin, light brown, gray.

I found Golden Gate's Pistolero, and a fine hat it is, but it's not what I want.  The only place I found a really great looking sombrero had a half dozen satting at $300 and going up.  Mostly rabbit fur felt.

Local lace here in Ontario has some at about the same price.  That seems high for an off the shelf hat, but may be reasonable by comparison.

Check out some of the ones worn by Calvera's bandits in Magnificent Seven and you'll see what I mean.

No flocked carboard.

No felt covered straw.

No cheap souvenier hats.

No chintzy embrroidery.

No black or dark brown.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy hombre,

I got lucky and picked up one of the last sombreros that Tombstone Outfitters was selling before they moved.  It's got an 8 inch brim and a big ol' torpedo top.  It is the style I think you want.. Unfortunately, they don't carry that line any more.

Now, if I were looking to buy a sombrero now, then I'd go to River Junction and probably order this hat.  A 5 1/2 inch brim is plenty big!
http://www.riverjunction.com/catalog/hats/sugarloaf.html

Adios,

[Forty Rod]

The Pistolero is a 6" x6" but it doesn't come in a big enough size to fit my big old gringo head.  Need a size 8.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Did you look at the River Junction hats?  They go to a size 8.

[Forty Rod]

I did.  Thanks.  Not quite what I had in mind though.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Yeah.. I understand.. HArd to find a real honest sombrero.
When I talked to Mike of Mike's Custom Hats, he said that the hat blanks he could buy were 6x6 at the biggest and then he cut them down.  He has a decent looking sombrero but I don't know the sizes.  I guess that makes the 8 inch brim hard to find.

The US Historical clothing web page (I think out of Arizona) has a few sombrero types (and cheap), but I've never heard anyone talk about the hats after they bought them.

Good luck,

[Forty Rod]

Hext, that may be the place I was looking for.  Do you have a link or other way the contact them?

Never mind...I found it. 

Thanks.

[Micheal Fortune]

I have a rather large head too, 7 5/8, and all the good looking hats around here seem to come in 7 1/2. 

There is a local hat shop here that will steam stretch them for you. 

Just an idea in case anyone finds the perfect hat and it's a half size too small for them.

[Forty Rod]

I've made do with a 7 3/4 by removing the sweat band, which I generally do anyway.